Category: Shop Visit

As I mentioned in the last post about my 51 Ford, the car needs new wiring. I asked 5 different people and got 4 different answers on who I should go with for the wiring harness and fuse panel for the 51. Which told me that they all were pretty much the same. I decided to go with a panel and wiring kit from Affordable Street Rods in Peabody, KS. This way I not only know who sold me the pieces, but who built them as well, and the cash stays in Kansas. I’m a big fan of buying local when you can.

So I headed down to Peabody, about an hour from my home to pick up the pieces and finally meet the owner Rex Watson in person. I arrived to find Rex and his brother working on this really nice rod.

Apparently a previous owner hadn’t done a good job of welding in some shot mounts so the boys were fixing them.

You know you do a lot of fab when you’ve spent the money for these kool plastic plugs to mimic the real thing. They look great as wall art too.

Outside another project was getting some fresh air.

While another one waits it’s turn to go under the knife.

Days gone by are a reminder with kool toys like this on the someday list.

The wiring kit and fuse panel look really well built and easy to understand, Rex has also reminded me multiple times that if I have any questions he is only a phone call away. Service, I dig it.

Like this:

A couple of years ago I just happened across a show on my way home from another event. That show was the Marysville AutoFest. At that show I see this super low, bagged black Edsel that was under construction, fast forward to the next year’s show and it’s all done and awesome. The owner and I become friends and he tells me that he couldn’t have finished the car without Auto Shop, Inc. in Beatrice, NE.

A few months ago the owner of that Edsel, my buddy Bill, tells me that I should come up to Beatrice, NE for the customer appreciation party at Auto Shop, where a lot of the custom body mods on his Edsel were done. Sounds like a good excuse to hop in the Galaxie and go for a drive to me…

Auto Shop has all manner of projects going on, from muscle cars to old school restorations on 20’s vehicles on up.

So for anyone in the area needing quality work done, give Auto Shop, in Beatrice NE a call at 402-223-4546, what I saw on this shop visit was great craftmanship and a whole bunch of satisfied customers, two things that tell me a lot about a shop.

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The second stop on my trip to the Texas Thaw (part 1, part 2, part 3) was at Premier Body & Paint in Arkansas City, KS the shop of Jeff Myers. Jeff’s been a buddy of mine for a couple of years, and always has something kool in the works.

For the last couple of years Jeff has been working on a 41 Ford. The car originally came in for a chop and paint job, but under some inspection Jeff found that the frame was shot, and a bunch of work was needed on the car so it became a complete frame up job. Earlier visits (here and here) to Jeff’s shows photos of the car under various states of build.

Here’s what I saw this trip. Jeff has the car primed and was prepping to paint the jambs and some other areas before pinstriper Clint Rowe came by to pull some lines on some areas that are more easily accessible now. The car will soon be off to Fat Lucky’s to get an interior done before coming back to Premier for final paint and assembly.

Jason’s Merc is in house for some new kustom work, new bumpers and some other mods if I remember right.

The 60 Fairlane that McPhail did was in the back, waiting to have the damage of a bus sideswipe repaired. The new owner in NJ had the unfortunate incident and sent the car back to Jeff to get it fixed.

Chaotic is busy at work with this beautiful 40 Ford pickup for Mike Young. The truck’s body is being massaged in every way imaginable for what will in the end be a subtle custom look to the untrained eye. The cab has been chopped, lengthened, sectioned, channelled, but when finished you’ll have to have a stock one sitting next to it to see the full extent of the differences.

Another project currently underway at Chaotic is a 1950 Oldsmobile Delivery. Well it started life as a Chevy Delivery, then it was chopped, an olds front clip was grafted on and the customizing began. The custom hood’s underside is being finished now.

Spy pic of Jack’s 51 Ford, more on this to come when the car is done.

This 1982 Chevy Malibu wagon may not be a car you normally see customized but it’s turning out pretty kool.

The 34 Ford awaits another polish job before heading off to the Detroit Autorama (they are loaded in the building now for the show there this weekend.)

Aaron is working brother Jack’s 1951 Ford Tudor Sedan Kustom right now. Most of the work on the build was done by Jack himself, but Chris Carlson and crew at Chaotic Customs have done a boatload of work on this very kool kustom.

Fast AL’s next project is waiting it’s turn.

Lots of kool on the walls of Fast AL’s Upholstery

If you need kustom upholstery, Fast AL’s number is in the first photo, give Aaron a call and tell him Royboy sent ya!

Like this:

Chaotic Customs January 2013 Shop Visit!

From time to time I’ll try to stop in at shops in the area and peek around to see what’s going on. This weekend I happened to be near my friends Chaotic Customs in Mulvane, KS. I was not planning on stopping and found myself without my camera, so I apologize for the down and dirty cell phone pics!

Chaotic has recently moved to their new location at 246 Industrial Drive in Mulvane, KS south of Wichita. The new 15,000 sq. ft. facility is always packed with projects.

Mike Young has this under construction 1940 Ford pickup at Chaotic. Lots of kustom touches and modifications, some of which are so subtle that they will go unnoticed by those not familiar with the body as Ford produced it.

Lots going on in the bed area, I’ll stop back in a couple of weeks and get some better shots of the bed and all of the mods being done to it.

Customer cars are all over at the shop, this one was new to me.

Drew Carlson (son of owners Chris and Karma) is building a wild 60’s indoor show style Chevy truck.

Drew and Chris scored this factory 348 tri-power out of wrecked 58 Chevrolet that was wrecked decades ago and the engine was removed and well taken care of ever since. If my memory serves there’s about 5000 miles on this engine.